NowdeemsRalphthatasforatrapoftheWoodPerilous，hehadalreadyfallenintothetrap；forhescarceneededtobetoldthattheseweremenoftheDryTree。HeknewalsothatitwasRogerwhohadledhimintothistrap，althoughhedeemeditdonewithnomaliceagainsthim。SohesaidtohimselfthatifhewentwithRogerhebutwentaroundaboutroadtotheDryTree；
　　sothathewaswellnighchoosingtogoonwiththeircompany。
　　YetagainhethoughtthatsomethingmightwellbefallwhichwouldfreehimfromthatfellowshipifhewentwithRogeralone；
　　whereasifhewentwiththeothersitwasnotthathemightbe，butthathewasalreadyofthefellowshipoftheDryTree，andmostlikewouldgostraightthencetotheirstronghold。
　　Sohespakeassoberlyasthetallmanhaddone。
　　“Sinceyegivemethechoice，fairsir，IwilldeparthencewithRogeralone，whomyecallmyman，thoughtomeheseemethtobeyours。Howbeit，hehasledmetoyouonce，andbelikewilldosooncemore。”
　　“Yea。”quoththebigmansmilingnowhitmorethanerst，“andthatwillmakethefourthtime。Departthen，fairsir，andtakethiswordwiththeethatIwishtheegoodandnotevil。”
　　RalphRideththeWoodPerilousAgainNowRogerleduptoRalphastronghorse，redroanofhue，dulyharnessedforwar，andhehimselfhadagoodgreyhorse，andtheymountedatonce，andRalphrodeslowlyawaythroughthewoodathishorse’swill，forhewasponderingallthathadbefallenhim，andwonderingwhatnextshouldhap。
　　Meanwhilethoseothershadnotloitered，butwerea-horsebackatonce，andwenttheirwaysfromRalphthroughthewildwood。
　　NoughtspakeRalphforawhiletillRogercamecloseuptohimandsaid：
　　“Whithershallwebetakeus，fairlord？hastthouaninklingoftheroadwhereonliesthineerrand？”
　　NowtoRalphthisseemedbutmockery，andheansweredsharply：
　　“Iwotnot，thouwiltleadwhitherthouwilt，evenasthouhasttrainedmehitherwardwithliesandaforgedtale。IsupposethouwiltleadmenowbysomeroundaboutroadtothestrongholdoftheDryTree。
　　Itmatterslittle，sincethoudurstnotleadmebackintotheBurg。
　　YetnowIcometothinkofit，itiseviltobealonewithafoundouttraitorandliar；andIhadbelikehavedonebettertogowiththeircompany。”
　　“Naynay。”quothRoger，“thouartangry，andImarvelnotthereat；
　　butletthywrathrunofftheeifthoumayest；forindeedwhatI
　　havetoldtheeofmyselfandmygriefsisnotallmerelying。
　　NeitherwasitanyliethatthouwertinperilofthylifeamongstthosetyrantsoftheBurg；thouwiththymanlybearing，andfreetongue，andbred，asIjudge，tohatecrueldeedsandinjustice。
　　Suchfreedomtheycannotawaywithinthatfellowshipofhardmen-at-arms；andsoonhadstthoucometoharmamongstthem。
　　Andfurther，letalonethatitisnotilltobesunderedfromyondercompany，whomayhapwillhaveroughworktodoorevertheywinhome，IhavenoughttodotobringtheetoHamptonunderScaurifthouhastnowilltogothither：
　　thoughcertesIwouldleadtheesomewhither，whereofthoushaltaskmenoughtasnow；yetwillIsaythereofthismuch，thattherethoushaltbebothsafeandwellatease。
　　Nowlastlyknowthis，thatwhateverIhavedone，Ihavedoneittodotheegoodandnotill；andthereisalsoanotherone，whomIwillnotnametothee，whowisheththeebetteryet，bythetokenofthosetwostrokesstrickenbytheeintheWoodPerilousbeforeyesterdaywasaday。”
　　NowwhenRalphheardthoselastwords，suchstrongandsweethopeanddesirestirredinhimtoseethatwomanoftheWant-waysoftheWoodPerilousthatheforgatallelse，exceptthathemustnowisefalltostrifewithRoger，lesttheyshouldsunder，andheshouldlosethehelpofhim，whichhenowdeemedwouldbringhimtosightofherwhomhehadunwittinglycometolongformorethanaughtelse；sohespaketoRogerquietlyandhumbly：
　　“Well，faring-fellow，thouseesthowIamlittlemorethanalad，andhavefallenintomattersmightyandperilous，whichImaynotdealwithofmyownstrength，atleastuntilIgetnighertothemsothatImaylookthemintheeyes，andstrikeastrokeortwoonthemiftheybeatenmitywithme。
　　SoIbidtheeleadmewhitherthouwilt，andifthoubeatraitortome，onthineownheadbeit；ingoodsooth，sinceIknownoughtofthiswoodandsinceImightgoastrayandsocomebacktotheBurgwherebethosewhomthouhastnowmademyfoemen，Iamcontenttotaketheeonthyword，andtohopethebestofthee，andasknoquestionofthee，savewhitherward。”
　　“Fairsir。”saidRoger，“awayfromthisplaceatleast；
　　forweareasyetovernightotheBurgtobesafe：
　　butastoelsewhitherwemaywend，thereofwemayspeakontheroadaswehaveleisure。”
　　Therewithhesmotehishorsewithhisheelandtheywentforwardatasmarttrot，forthehorseswereunwearied，andthewoodthereaboutsofbeechandclearofunderwood；andRogerseemedtoknowhiswaywell，andmadenofumblingoverit。
　　Fourhoursormoregone，thewoodthinnedandthebeechesfailed，andtheycametoacountry，stillwaste，oflittlelowhills，stonyforthemorepart，besetwithscraggythorn-bushes，andhereandtheresomeotherberry-treesownbythebirds。ThensaidRoger：
　　“NowIdeemuswelloutoftheperilofthemoftheBurg，whoiftheyfollowthechaseasfarasthesunderingofusandtheothers，willheedourslotnothing，butwillfollowonthatofthecompany：
　　sowemaybreatheourhorsesalittle，thoughtheirbaitwillbebutsmallinthisroughwaste：thereinwearebetteroffthanthey，forloyou，saddlebagsonmynagandmeatanddrinktherein。”
　　Sotheylighteddownandlettheirhorsesgrazewhattheycould，whiletheyateanddrank；amidstwhichRalphagainaskedRogerofwhithertheyweregoing。SaidRoger：“Ishallleadtheetoagoodharbour，andanoblehouseofamasterofmine，whereinthoumaystdwellcertaindays，ifthouhastamindthereto，notwithoutsolacemaybe。”
　　“Andthismaster。”saidRalph，“isheoftheDryTree？”
　　SaidRoger：“Iscarceknowhowtoanswertheewithoutlying：
　　butthisIsay，thatwhetherhebeornot，thisistrue；
　　amongstthosemenIhavefriendsandamongstthemfoes；
　　butfatebindethmetothemforawhile。”SaidRalphreddening：
　　“Bethereanywomenamongstthem？”“Yea，yea。”quothRoger，smilingalittle，“doubtnotthereof。”
　　“AndthatLadyoftheDryTree。”quothRalph，reddeningyetmore，butholdinguphishead，“thatwomanwhereoftheBurgherspokesobitterly，threateningherwithtormentsanddeathiftheymightbutlayholdofher；whatwiltthoutellmeconcerningher？”
　　“Butlittle。”saidRoger，“savethis，thatthoudesiresttoseeher，andthatthoumayesthavethywillthereonifthouwiltbeguidedbyme。”
　　RalphhearkenedasifheheededlittlewhatRogersaid；
　　butpresentlyheroseupandwalkedtoandfroinshortturnswithknitbrowsasoneponderingahardmatter。
　　Hespakenought，andRogerseemedtoheedhimnothing，thoughinsoothhelookedathimaskancefromtimetotime，tillatlasthecameandlaydownagainbyRoger，andinawhilehespake：
　　“IwotnotwhyyeoftheDryTreewantme，orwhatyewilldowithme；andbutforonethingIwouldevennowrideawayfromtheeatalladventure。”
　　Rogersaid：“Allthisyeshalllearnlateron，andshaltfinditbutasimplematter；andmeanwhileItelltheeagainthatallisforthygainandthypleasure。Sonowrideawayifthouwilt；
　　whohindereththee？certesnotI。”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph，“Iwillridewiththeefirsttothatfairhouse；
　　andafterwardsweshallseewhatistohap。”“Yea。”quothRoger，“thenletustohorsestraightway，sothatwemaybethereifnotbeforedarknightyetatleastbeforebrightmorn；
　　foritisyetfaraway。”
　　RalphComethtotheHouseofAbundanceTherewithaltheygattohorseandrodeawaythroughthatstonyland，whereinwasnoriver，butforwatermanypoolsinthebottoms，withlittlebrooksrunningfromthem。
　　Butafterawhiletheycameuponaridgesomewhathigh，onthefurthersidewhereofwasawidevalleywell-grassedandwithfewtrees，andnohabitationofmanthattheymightsee。
　　Butawideriverrandownthemidstofit；anditwasnowfourhoursafternoon。QuothRoger：“Thedaywearsandweshallbynomeansreachharbourbeforedarknight，evenifwedoourbest：
　　artthouwellusedtothewater，lord？”“Muchasamallardis。”
　　saidRalph。SaidRoger：“Thatiswell，forthoughthereisafordsomemileandahalfdownstream，forthatsamereasonitisthewaywherebymenmostlycrossthewaterintothewildwood；
　　andhereagainwearemoreliketomeetfoesthanwell-wishers；
　　orattheleasttherewillbequestionofwhoweare，andwhenceandwhither；andwemaystumbleinouranswers。”SaidRalph：
　　“Thereisnoneedtotarry，ridewedowntothewater。”
　　Sodidthey，andtookthewater，whichwasdeep，butnotswift。
　　Onthefurthersidetheyclombupahillsomewhatsteep；
　　atthecrowntheydrewreintogivetheirhorsesbreath，andRalphturnedinhissaddleandlookeddownontothevalley，andasaforesaidhewasclear-sightedandfar-sighted；nowhesaid：
　　“Fellow-farer，Iseetheridingoffolkdownbelowthere，andmeseemstheybespurringtowardthewater；andtheyhaveweapons：
　　there！dostthounotseethegleam？”
　　“Iwilltakethywordforit，fairsir。”saidRoger，“andwillevenspur，sincetheybethefirstmenwhomwehaveseensinceweleftthethickets。”
　　Andtherewithhewentoffatahandgallop，andRalphfollowedhimwithoutmoreado。
　　Theyrodeuphillanddowndaleofagrassydownland，tillatlasttheysawawoodbeforethemagain，andsoondrewreinundertheboughs；fornowweretheirhorsessomewhatwearied。
　　ThensaidRalph：“Herehaveweriddenafairland，andseenneitherhousenorherd，neithersheep-cotenorshepherd。
　　Iwonderthereat。”
　　SaidRoger：“Thouwouldstwonderthelessdidstthouknowthestoryofit。”
　　“Whatstory？”saidRalph。QuothRoger：“Astoryofwarandwasting。”
　　“Yea？”saidRalph，“yetsurelysomeboldknightorbaronhathrightsintheland，andmightbefreetobuildhimastronghouseandgathermentohimtoguardtheshepherdsandhusbandmenfromburnersandlifters。”
　　“Soothisthat。”saidRoger；“butthereareotherthingsinthetale。”
　　“Whatthings？”saidRalph。QuothRoger：“IllhapandsorrowandtheHandofFateandgreatSorcery。”“Anddastardswithal？”
　　saidRalph。“Evenso。”saidRoger，“yetmingledwithvaliantmen。
　　Overlongisthetaletotellasnow，solowasthesunis；
　　sonowrideweonwithlittlefearoffoemen。Forlookyou，thiswood，likethethicketsabouttheBurgoftheFourFriths，hathanevilname，andfewfolkrideituncompelled；thereforeitisthesaferforus。
　　AndyetIwillsaythistothee，thatwhereasawhileagonethoumightesthavedepartedfrommewithlittleperilofaughtsavethestumblingonsomeoftheridersoftheBurgoftheFourFriths，departingfrommenowwillbeahardmattertothee；forthesaintsinHeavenonlyknowwhitherwardthoushouldestcome，ifthouwerttoguidethyselfnow。
　　Thisaroughword，butatrueone，sohelpmeGodandSaintMichael！
　　Whatsayestthou；artthoucontent，orwiltthoucasthardwordsatmeagain？”
　　SoitwasthatforallthathadcomeandgoneRalphwaslight-heartedandhappy；sohelaughedandsaid：
　　“ContentwereI，evenifIwerenotcompelledthereto。
　　Formyhearttellsmeofnewthings，andmarvellousandjoyousthatIshallseeerelong。”
　　“Andthineheartliethnot。”saidRoger，“foramidstofthiswoodisthehousewhereweshallhaveguestingto-night，whichwillbetothee，belike，thedooroflifeandmanymarvels。